Systems and methods for estimating cardiac arrythmia

Abstract

A method and system for estimating Atrial fibrillation (AF) burden based on spot checks, the method including: determining a schedule for spot checks; initiating a spot check based on the schedule; analyzing the results of the spot check to detect an AF episode; and adjusting the schedule based on detected AF episodes, where the spot check includes a type of check selected from: a voice test, an electrocardiogram (ECG) test, a photoplethysmography (PPG) test, acoustic sensing and optical heartbeat monitoring.

1 . A method for estimating Atrial fibrillation (AF) burden based on spot checks, the method comprising:
 determining a schedule for spot checks;   initiating a spot check based on the schedule;   analyzing the results of the spot check to detect an AF episode; and   adjusting the schedule based on detected AF episodes.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the schedule comprises adjusting at least one of the lists consisting of: frequency of performing additional spot checks, required length of the additional spot checks, and timing of performing the spot check. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the spot check comprises a type of check selected from the list consisting of: a voice test, an electrocardiogram (ECG) test, a photoplethysmography (PPG) test, acoustic sensing and optical heartbeat monitoring, and wherein the method comprising selecting the type of spot check based on the detected AF episodes. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the schedule is determined based on background health and personal parameters of the patient. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the schedule is determined based on typical patterns of AF episodes. 
     
     
         8 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A device for estimating Atrial fibrillation (AF) burden based on spot checks, the device comprising:
 a memory; and   a processor configured to:
 determine a schedule for spot checks; 
 initiate a spot check based on the schedule; 
 analyze the results of the spot check to detect an AF episode; and 
 adjust the schedule based on detected AF episodes. 
   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 perform a plurality of spot checks according to the schedule; and   estimate an AF burden based on results of the spot checks.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to adjust the schedule by adjusting at least one of the lists consisting of: frequency of performing additional spot checks, required length of the additional spot checks, and timing of performing the spot check. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the spot check comprises a type of check selected from the list consisting of: a voice test, an electrocardiogram (ECG) test, a photoplethysmography (PPG) test, acoustic sensing and optical heartbeat monitoring. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is configured to select the type of spot check based on the detected AF episodes. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the schedule based on background health and personal parameters of the patient. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the schedule based on typical patterns of AF episodes. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to adjust the protocol of initiating subsequent analysis based on at least one additional parameter selected from the list consisting of: patient adherence, number of previous detected AF episodes, length of previous detected AF episodes, timing of previous detected AF episodes, an AF burden frequency of past patient-initiated spot checks. 
     
     
         26 . A device for determining a health state of a patient, the device comprising:
 a memory; and   a processor configured to:
 obtain a first voice sample of the patient; 
 analyze the first voice sample to determine a health state of the patient; and 
 adjust a protocol of initiating subsequent analysis of a subsequent voice sample of the patient based on the determined health state. 
   
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 26 , the processor is configured to adjust the protocol of initiating subsequent analysis by adjusting at least one of the list consisting of: frequency of taking additional voice samples of the patient, required vowels for the additional voice samples, required length of the additional voice samples, type of the additional voice samples and timing of taking the voice samples. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the processor is configured to obtain the first voice sample of the patient by:
 sampling free speech of the patient; and   extracting selected vowels from the free speech to generate the first voice sample of the patient.   
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the processor is configured to obtain the first voice sample of the patient by:
 prompting the patient to say a predetermined set of vowels; and   recording an utterance of the patient.   
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the processor is configured to determine a required content of the subsequent voice sample based on the analysis of the first voice sample. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein obtaining the first voice sample of the patient and analyzing the first voice sample is initiated by the patient. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the processor is configured to analyze the first voice sample to determine a health state of the patient by determining a cardiac arrhythmia of the patient. 
     
     
         34 . (canceled)